Returning To You

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Kuronue wasn't sure what to say to the girl. How could she forgive him when he couldn't forgive himself? He knew he could be ruthless and cold if the situation called for it but he'd never taken a female against her will before. Knowing he had done so didn't sit will with him. It left a bitter taste in his mouth and an empty feeling inside his stomach. He could remember every minute of the pain he had caused her. He knew most rape victims suffered greatly afterwards. She however seemed unaffected so far from the events. Then again he hadn't tried to bed her again afterwards nor would he.

He could understand the fox's anger very well. She may be a strong person but even she would need time before wanting to engage in sexual activities for awhile, if ever again. If she truelly forgave him then he would be thankful, he didn't deserve it.

Sango saw he wasn't going to say anything else, that was fine with her. She knew he had to be feeling guilty, he showed he was remorseful for his actions. With everything else she knew that was all she needed. She had been wounded before, she would try to look at it the same. Something told her it would take alot more than that to get over it but it was a start. Time healed all wounds, so they say. Now if she could only find a way to heal the damage caused between the two men.

She had always considered herself to be a strong person, she would get through this. The door opened behind her and Miroku stepped outside. A small smile was placed on her face as she greeted him, he looked worried.

"Will you go for a walk with me Sango?"

"Sure," She followed behind him as he walked away from the building. She let the tension ease from her shoulders as she walked. Miroku's shoulders were stiff as he continued, he seemed upset. "What is it?"

He stopped and turned around, "I am worried about you. I know you, you are holding it all in. It is alright to breakdown every once in a while."

"I have cried enough."

"Have you? Sango what were you doing out there by yourself? Something else is bothering you, I can see it. You can lean on me."

She didn't want to think of the reason she'd been out alone. How could she explain to him that the man she'd left him for had treated her in almost the same fashion as the one that had raped her. Kuronue she could forgive, under the circumstances. He didn't know her, she'd been a complete stranger to him. Kurama on the other hand had treated her worse in her opinion. Maybe it hurt worse with him because of her feelings for him.

Maybe it was easy for her to look over what a stranger had done because someone she loved had almost done the same. Sure she had been willing at first with Kurama but then it had changed, he had hurt her. He had hurt her and then degraded her; worst of all he'd broken her heart. Could she forgive him as easily as she did the other man. That she didn't know, the damage done to her body was nothing. It was the damage that caused her unbearable pain everytime she thought about him. Or when she looked at him, in either form. If only he cared just a little bit, it would make a big difference. It would make all the difference to her.

Miroku saw the tears begin to fall even though she didn't speak. He pulled her into his arms and tried to comfort her the best he could. He knew it probably didn't give much comfort but it was all he could give her. The least he could do was give her a shoulder to cry on.

Sango let him hold her as the sobs began to consume her. She buried her in his chest, letting some of her anguish forth. He held her but she couldn't bring herself to return the embrace, it wasn't who she wanted to be holding her. The knowledge made her cry even harder. Anger mixed in with her tears as she thought about it.

Miroku felt the change and wasn't sure what to do. The tears continued to come but then she began expressing her anger. The first hit landed on his right shoulder almost knocking him back, he stood his ground. Well he tried. The next hit struck him across the face, busting his nose. "Sango, please try to calm yourself." He suddenly felt himself being pushed to the ground.

Kuronue stood in front of the girl as she lashed out. The sobs took her everytime her fist struck him, he let her. He had caused most of the pain he was sure, she needed this. He felt her fist land across his mouth. She was strong for a human female, the blows were hard enough to cause pain.

The pain consumed her as she let her mind wonder back to everytime he had ever touched her. He'd only touched her tenderly one time, that was the night she'd woken up. Every other time had been sexually, none of it tender. He hadn't made love to her, he'd used her like a whore because she was convienent. She'd let him take her, he hadn't even had to seduce her. She'd been trying to give him everything she'd had to offer and it had meant nothing to him. A scream escaped her as she recalled speaking her feelings to him, he'd taken her brutally. He didn't want her love, he'd wanted release.

She felt two arms go around her trying to soothe her, her anger almost spent. Yet the tears continued to fall down her face, she gave a few more feeble attempts to strike out at the person holding her.

A few people rushed out the door as they heard the scream. Their eyes and ears took in Sango's sobs and her striking against the man holding her.

Hiei felt the fox's rage and tried to stop him, "Kurama."

Kuronue heard the name spoken and felt the angry aura of his old partner a second before he felt himself being yanked back away from the girl. The fist landed into his face knocking him back, he welcomed the pain.The fox was relentless as he struck out, unlike the girl's these blows caused damage. He grunted when a blow landed in his stomach knocking the air out.

Everyone watched while Kurama continued to hit the man, some were suprised when he did nothing to defend himself. The bat youkai suddenly got knocked down on his back and the grass grew to wrap around his arms and legs holding him still.

Kuronue saw his death in the green eyes and accepted it. He'd turned on the man that had been his partner for centuries. He'd tried to hurt the man that he loved like a brother. Then he had done the unthinkable and raped an innocent woman.

Hiei saw that the fox didn't mean to stop, he had to be stopped. He didn't care if the man died or not but cared about Kurama. If Kurama dealt the fatal blow then the girl would never forgive him, it would be the final blow in ending any chance that he had with her. The girl was still in a state of shock from her breakdown, she had no idea what was going on around her yet. Hiei covered the distance and landed a punch across the fox's face knocking him back. He was hoping to either knock some sense into him or change the target of his rage. He looked at his best friend who was now glaring at him. "Snap out of it. You kill him and she will never forgive you, is that what you want?"

Hiei saw his eyes flicker to the girl real quick, that seemed to increase the man's rage. He went for the man on the ground once more. "Kurama." Hiei interceded again, knocking him back. "Don't make me hurt you, I will if that is what it takes."

Sango heard the words spoken and looked up. Through her tears she saw Kurama standing a few feet from her. Hiei's words echoed in her mind, her eyes fell on the fox's busted lip. She wasn't sure what was going on but she wouldn't let Hiei hurt him. "Don't. Don't hurt him."

Hiei sensed the fox's anger grow as she spoke, great. She should have remained silent, her words were only causing him to want to kill the man more. His eyes widened in suprise when she ran over and threw her arms around Kurama's middle.

Sango knew he wouldn't want her to touch him, she didn't care. She had no idea why Hiei had attacked him and it didn't matter. To lose him would kill her, even if they would never be together. Even if he didn't care about her, she didn't want to see him hurt. "Please," She buried her head into his chest, "I can't lose him again."

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